Murano and Burano Island
Murano and Burano are two small Islands next to Venice, Veneto region. The Islands you can easily visit by Vaporetto public transportation in Venice or you can find private water taxi which is more expensive. Daily tickets are around 8 Euros and you can stop before Burano and Murano to see San Giorgio Maggiore Basilica too. My recommendation for those two Islands is to take whole day to explore. Firstly, because they different from each other and unique so can see all you want to see.
Murano and Burano Islands is about 20 minutes ride from main station in Venice. Murano is famous by glass making and its independent commune. As soon as you step out from Vaporetto turn left to go to famous Murano glass factory. Entrance is free and small groups no more 30 people approximately going inside of factory to see glass making. Tour is about 40 minutes and tour guide explains and shows step by step from the beginning, how to make shape, what color they use, how to mix glass and put in oven on more than 1400 C and blow very tiny and airy forms. This tradition making Murano glass were old about one thousands years and this tradition making glass is passed on from father to son. You can see more about Venice and Murano island on my YouTube here.
After all explanations of making Murano glass you can keep going to continue your visit to the shops. Murano glass factory is only factory on the Island protected by Italian government and shop inside fabric selling original murano glass made at the same place you have seen. Inside shop is huge area with all products, starting from jewelry, than wine glasses, beer glasses, vases, chandeliers and more. I found myself looking all beautiful arts more than two hours. Absolutely impressive how all those arts are made by human hands and colors look like rainbow or they have some drawing. I bought few earrings and few necklaces and of course wall magnets.
As you see, there are so many interesting places to be seen on Murano and Burano Islands. When I finished my shopping I went to see local houses and had coffee and croissant in local restaurant. Wi-Fi connection you can find in any restaurant or coffee shop you sit to relax.
Next stop after short coffee break was Burano Island. Burano Island is known by brightly colored fisherman’s houses and serving sea food from the lagoon. The famous place you can visit here is Merletto museum were you can see development of lace making products such as linens and clothes. Moreover, Burano is famous by local butter cookies called “bussolai buranei“. Lace products are very interesting and very expensive too but do not hesitate to buy some part of clothes because sometimes they need than six months to make one dress.
However, in every store on Murano and Burano Islands you can see few ladies making some products. Walking around this island I noticed all houses are separated by different color. Reason why is simple, to recognized they own houses. Legend said that when is fog, only color you can see from the open sea and when fisherman coming back to house he is looking for color of the house. If some owner wants to paint their house they have to send a request to the Government, who will respond by making notice of the certain colors permitted for that.
One more interesting fact: there are no cars on this Island. Where ever local people need to go they use their small boats or public transportation Vaporreto. Food and drinks in restaurant on Murano and Burano is not that expensive as in Venice and you can choose any place to have fresh sea food or some local specialty’s.
The famous drink is Veneziano , made by Prosecco, Aperol and splash of soda water. I don’t have to mention that pizza is good everywhere you sit and they have pizza topics you never heard before. This Island some people call the most colorful Island in the world and it remains me a little bit on Curacao. When you enough of walking this colorful Island you can always take Vaparetto to go back to main station in Venice.
When you come back to Venice you will still have time to eat nice dinner and enjoy sunset too. If you come to Venice, you must find some time for extra visit of Murano and Burano islands!
Check out my other stories here!





